Rating: 
Summary: Amazing follow-up to a great beginning
Review: I found myself wondering if I truly wanted to read DARK HOLLOW, the second book by John Connolly featuring Charlie "bird" Parker. After all, how could he possibly write another book as well-crafted and entertaining as EVERY DEAD THING. I thought that maybe I was only going to be disappointed by a "not-so-great follow-up novel". Boy am I glad I was wrong! With DARK HOLLOW, Connoly is once again able to present his nightmare world of flawed heroes, lost souls, and killers reaching mythical status. Parker, still haunted by visions of his wife and child along with a host of other lost souls seeking a reckoning, tries to piece his life back together having barely survived, both physically and mentally, his battle with the Traveling Man, only to be swept into yet another dark maze of madness and murder. This time, the killer is a locally fabled "bogeyman" monster that goes by the name Caleb Kyle. Once again, his faithful sidekicks Angel and Louis are by his side. Mobsters also join in on the fun, as well as a pair of sadistic killers-for-hire, all of whom are hunting a treasure of money. Now that's one heck of a side-plot! As with the first book, the writing is crisp and poignant,at times humorous, and always poetic. The action is fast and plentiful, and the body count again reaches the stratosphere. And if that wasn't enough, Connolly also found time to elaborate more on the nature of Angel and Louis' relationship and loyalty to Parker. Nice touch. But what I found most refreshing about this installment was the sense of peace given to Parker at the end of the novel. After having experienced the guilt and pain of continually being tormented by memories of his lost family in both the first book and this novel, it was touching to finally have Parker possibly at peace with his past. Once again, this book left me truly satiated and very much exhausted, but I can't wait to hear again from this wonderful writer. If nothing at all, DARK HOLLOW has proven that irishman John Connolly is a genuine talent and a pleasure to read. SUPERB!!! CRIME NOVELS DON'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS !!!
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Summary: My favorite author!
Review: I loved the second "Bird" Parker novel, and actually ordered a British copy off the Internet to be able to read it earlier. A note to fans; I have found that the British edition includes a few scenes in their completion, which appear to have been trimmed in the American version. Perhaps editors felt the swimming pool scene was too intense for frail American readers.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoy Connolly's books. The touch of the supernatural is more present here than in his first novel, and Connolly makes that atmosphere work well for him.
Grab any book of his that you can find!
Rating: 
Summary: I've tried very hard to read on but failed.
Review: I've tried to read about 50 pages but failed to get connected. I don't like the way it goes and the paces seem random and slow. Just couldn't ran the first 50 yards and have realized even I ploughed on to 100 yards, it wouldn't take off. Sorry, have read lot of thrillers, but this one seems got lead around the ankles, dragging along is not what I like to experience with a so-called thriller. You don't have to click yes or no, 'cause it's just my personal feelings, papa.
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Summary: The Poet Lauriat of High Crime
Review: If you enjoy a well-paced thriller, but also appreciate the craft of an accomplished wordsmith, John Connolly is a must read. Not to be confused with the more popular but less talented Michael Connolly, John's command of the language conjures vivid images and creates characters of substance and depth. ...P>But while "Dark Hallow", the second of three tales of novels of ex-NYPD cop Charlie "Bird" Parker, is lyrical in style, the content is as tough, gritty, and hard as the best of Jim Thompson, James Lee Burke, Dennis Lehane, or newcomer Boston Teran. Parker, having moved from New York to the woods of Maine following the brutal murder of his wife and daughter the previous year, is drawn into a series of murders and mysteries eerily similar to the serial murder of young women years before. The earlier murders were the obsession of Parker's policeman-grandfather, which haunted him to his grave. Back in a supporting roles are the bizarrely odd couple of Angel and Louis, thief and assassin, respectively, who Parker considers his closest friends and allies. Connolly hooks the reader in early through a pair of seemingly unrelated but simultaneous events. One, the suicide of an old woman fleeing from an elderly care facility, and the other, an underworld ambush on the Maine coast, set the stage for a intricate plot that twists to an exciting and satisfying climax.In summary, in the overcrowded field of crime-hardened ex-cops and private eyes, John Connolly brings a fresh and welcomed change to the genre, and is definitely worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: The Poet Lauriat of High Crime
Review: If you enjoy a well-paced thriller, but also appreciate the craft of an accomplished wordsmith, John Connolly is a must read. Not to be confused with the more popular but less talented Michael Connolly, John's command of the language conjures vivid images and creates characters of substance and depth. ...P>But while "Dark Hallow", the second of three tales of novels of ex-NYPD cop Charlie "Bird" Parker, is lyrical in style, the content is as tough, gritty, and hard as the best of Jim Thompson, James Lee Burke, Dennis Lehane, or newcomer Boston Teran. Parker, having moved from New York to the woods of Maine following the brutal murder of his wife and daughter the previous year, is drawn into a series of murders and mysteries eerily similar to the serial murder of young women years before. The earlier murders were the obsession of Parker's policeman-grandfather, which haunted him to his grave. Back in a supporting roles are the bizarrely odd couple of Angel and Louis, thief and assassin, respectively, who Parker considers his closest friends and allies. Connolly hooks the reader in early through a pair of seemingly unrelated but simultaneous events. One, the suicide of an old woman fleeing from an elderly care facility, and the other, an underworld ambush on the Maine coast, set the stage for a intricate plot that twists to an exciting and satisfying climax. In summary, in the overcrowded field of crime-hardened ex-cops and private eyes, John Connolly brings a fresh and welcomed change to the genre, and is definitely worth reading.
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Summary: Connolly Delivers his Second Big Bang
Review: In his second offering, after his critically acclaimed book Every Dead Thing, John Connolly delivers a mature, tightly packed novel that takes is part horror as much as it is thriller. Authors usually follow two trends if their book is successful. Either continue with the same formula and the same characters, hoping that readers still crave more or find a different ground and take it from there. Connolly takes on the first approach and continues on from his first book with his main character Charlie "Bird" Parker in the spotlight. This time however, it's a bit different. All characters are much more mature than their previous outing and at the same time the story premises is a bit less personal. Parker has the feel of the underdog. Your typical man who the world has given him more than enough of its hardships and woes. In the first novel, his wife and daughter are killed, setting the grom tone of the character. There are times that he takes on the helm and truly shines through. The first narration, Connolloy chooses works best in this type of writing. You want to see the world in Parker's eyes and you grow to trust his judgement at times. The other characters are also there with a little more on the gay couple Angel and Louis. People who stereotype gay people as being all lovey dovey and gently will be in for a real surprise. Angel is your run of the mill tough guy with all the rough edges to add. Louis is classy, stylish and has the killer cool around him. To top the controversy of their sexual orientation, the couple is also white and black. Connolly gives us more depth on their relationship with Parker. The story, though, is different than the first. The first one had more supernatural visitations of ghosts and what have you appearing to Parker in dreams. This one has only a few. The supernatural foray is lacking much when compared to the first. His sixth sense intuition seems to have been lost to dreams of his dead wife and child beckoning him to help other dead ghosts. Sort of like an avenging angel. This works well in the beginning, but you still ponder on that the supernatural horror background to the main detective thriller is what made Connolly's Every Dead Thing such a great read. Perhaps, his third book will pick up with that haunting atmosphere. This doesn't mean this is a bad read. On the contrary, Connolly is amazing when it comes to graceful descriptive prose. He also commadeers excellent geographical background of the US and New England in specific, even though he's from Ireland, which actually makes you think of the good amount of research he puts into his novels. All in all, New England will never be the same. John Connolly is moving into Stephen King's stomping grounds. Where will Charlie Parker go next? Good thing Connolly has the third book already out!!!
Rating:
Summary: Sophmore effort succeeds
Review: In his second outing John Connolly has shown that he has what it takes. Parker returns and this time we find ourselves in a mystery in Maine. We find out more of Charlie "Bird" Parker's past, and get a deeper look into his head. And as if Parker isn't enough reason to read it, Angel and Louis are back as well. ( I would love to see a book with them in the lead!) Connolly's books are dark, and have a bit of supernatural feel to them, but they are engrossing, well written and well researched. Turn on the lights, and be ready to stay up all night!
Rating:
Summary: Sophmore effort succeeds
Review: In his second outing John Connolly has shown that he has what it takes. Parker returns and this time we find ourselves in a mystery in Maine. We find out more of Charlie "Bird" Parker's past, and get a deeper look into his head. And as if Parker isn't enough reason to read it, Angel and Louis are back as well. ( I would love to see a book with them in the lead!) Connolly's books are dark, and have a bit of supernatural feel to them, but they are engrossing, well written and well researched. Turn on the lights, and be ready to stay up all night!
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Summary: A TERRIFYING NOVEL OF MURDER AND REVENGE!!!
Review: In John Connolly's newest novel, DARK HOLLOW, the character of Charlie "Bird" Parker returns to track down a serial killer that his grandfather once hunted. It began thirty-six years before when six women between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two disappeared in northern Maine during the months from April to October. Charlie's grandfather, Bob Warren, helped in the search for the missing girls, but to no avail...that is until a stranger stepped into a bar one night and told him to look in the Sebec Lake area. Five of the women were found there, hanging naked from the same oak tree. The stranger's name was Caleb Kyle, and he was never seen again. Three decades later, Charlie Parker is asked by Rita Ferris to help collect some back child support from her ex-husband, Billy Purdue. A few days later, Rita and her infant son are found brutally murdered, and the police think that Billy did it. It sounds like an open-and-shut case. The only problem is that Billy has taken off, and it seems like everybody in New England is after him. The local and state police want him for murder. Tony Celli, a member of the Boston mob, thinks that he stole two million dollars from him and will do whatever it takes to get the money back. Next in line are two very evil, cold-blooded assassins who want to get their hands on the missing money so that they can retire in style. Last, but not least, is Charlie Parker. Charlie thinks that Billy is innocent. In fact, his gut instinct tells him that Caleb Kyle is behind the deaths of Rita and her child, not to mention the many killings that will soon follow. The real questions are what is the connection between Caleb Kyle and Billy Purdue, and why has Caleb Kyle started killing once again? Charlie will eventually find himself up against the most vicious murderers he has ever encountered, and Death will be around the corner, waiting for him to make a mistake. Even with the help of his friends, Louis and Angel, he may not survive the cost required to find the answers to his questions and to finally finish what his late grandfather wanted to do-kill Caleb Kyle! In DARK HOLLOW, Mr. Connolly has written a truly magnificent follow-up to his first novel, EVERY DEAD THING. It's been almost a year since "The Traveling Man" murdered Charlie's wife and daughter. The emotional pain and guilt are still there for Charlie (not to mention the fact that he's able to see the dead and hear their cries for retribution), but now he has a new purpose in life. His one desire is to fight for those who are unable to do it for themselves; and, thereby, to make amends for the death of his family and for the violence he has inadvertently brought to those closest to him. Charlie understands that there can be no salvation for him, but possibly...just possibly he might be able to bring about reparation by helping the weak and innocent and killing those who would prey on them. Charlie "Bird" Parker is a richly drawn character that boldly comes to life and quickly draws the reader into his world of sorrow and revenge. No super hero, he gets beat up and tortured and barely survives as he bull-headedly plows ahead for the truth. The truth, however, isn't always what we think it will be, and it always has a price. The characters of Louis and Angel are just as strong. Though criminals in their own right, they also have a moral code of honor and are more than willing to put their lives on the line to help Charlie because they know he's doing the right thing. Like the author, Thomas Harris, Mr. Connolly also knows how to create killers who reek of pure evil and can cause goose bumps to rise on the arms of the reader. Most people would not survive a chance encounter with someone like Caleb Kyle, or the assassin known as Stritch. These characters are the personification of evil and match Charlie's goodness deed for deed. DARK HOLLOW is a powerful, multi-layered novel that will literally chill you to the bone. That it works successfully on a number of different levels is a credit to Mr. Connolly's talent as a writer. He's able to juggle several plot lines without slowing down the pace of the novel and then have them converge into a suspenseful, electrifying ending that leaves the reader wishing that the next "Charlie Parker" novel was already out. John Connolly is a new voice on the horizon and he definitely deserves to be heard. If you haven't read either of his two books, buy them now and then, like me, you'll eagerly be awaiting for the third book in the trilogy to come out.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic gothic like thriller
Review: It seems like several lifetimes ago that Charlie "Bird" Parker's world was perfect, but those happy times ended less than a year ago. He enjoyed working as an officer in the New York Police Department and loved his wife and his little girl. His idyllic life ended when a killer murdered his wife and child. Charlie crossed over the line and accompanied by a semi-retired burglar and a professional assassin, he killed his family's murderer. Charlie lives alone in his grandfather's house in Scarborough, Maine, hoping he will attain some measure of peace. However, Charlie soon finds himself drawn into the troubled life of Billie Purdue, who many locals believe stole a million dollar from a desperate and nasty Boston gangster. When Billie's ex-wife and their child are killed with the mother's lips sewn tightly together, the police believe he did it. Charlie spirit dreams of being asked to help prove Billie is innocent and so reluctantly investigates a case filled with many players who want the inquiries stopped. DARK HOLLOW is a very dark atmospheric gothic-like novel that takes place in shadows where few people dare venture. Charlie is an anti-hero seeking peace, but instead finds an opportunity for redemption after taking the law into his own hands. His cohorts are likable felons and good friends to Charlie. The plot is loaded with twists and turns and just when the reader expects a straight road to the climax, another curve surfaces, making it almost impossible to guess the ending. John Connolly is a brilliant storyteller who seems like a Ludlum with a dash of King to add spice to the fabulous mix. Harriet Klausner
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